State, city of Conroe officials feel the heat

Matthew Costa

Published
6:24 am CDT, Saturday, October 25, 2014

Conroe Fire Chief Ken Kreger helps Conroe Mayor Pro Tem Guy Martin with his firefighter gear during Fire Ops 101 training on Friday in Houston. The course gave community members the chance to experience what it’s like to fight fires.

Conroe Fire Chief Ken Kreger helps Conroe Mayor Pro Tem Guy Martin with his firefighter gear during Fire Ops 101 training on Friday in Houston. The course gave community members the chance to experience what

Conroe Fire Chief Ken Kreger helps Conroe Mayor Pro Tem Guy Martin with his firefighter gear during Fire Ops 101 training on Friday in Houston. The course gave community members the chance to experience what it’s like to fight fires.

Conroe Fire Chief Ken Kreger helps Conroe Mayor Pro Tem Guy Martin with his firefighter gear during Fire Ops 101 training on Friday in Houston. The course gave community members the chance to experience what

HOUSTON — Officials from the state of Texas and city of Conroe got first-hand knowledge on what it takes to be a firefighter and the danger they put themselves in on a daily basis, courtesy of both the Conroe and Houston fire departments at Fire Ops 101 training on Friday.

“It’s an opportunity for us to put you all through the tasks of some of the things we do,” said Ken Kreger, city of Conroe fire chief. “You’ll also see why we ask for the things we do, and why it’s important to us.”

Almost 20 attendees, including District 4 Senator Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and State Representative and Conroe Maryor Pro Tem Guy Martin experienced what it’s like to face a fire in a home in a controlled environment at the Houston Fire Department Val Jahnke Training Center.

After a short brief from both Kreger and Houston Fire Department Regional Training Director Tony Reed, the men and women who signed up were given their full firefighter’s gear to wear throughout the day, including boots, fire-resistant pants, jacket, gloves, mask and helmet.

The group was then separated into two units, and split time between going into and through a pitch-black home with a partner and a firefighter, while the other group watched in a sealed room as a 1,400-degree fire quickly grew around them before dousing it with a hose.

Once both groups had made it through the first two phases, the activities were completed by bringing everything together in an artificial home at the training facility, which was then set ablaze.

“I have a new found respect for everything these guys do, I’ll tell you that much,” said Steve Williams, Chief Financial Officer at city of Conroe.

The day concluded with the fire departments awarding each participant their very own firefighter helmet to keep, as well as an experience that will be hard to ever forget.

“I want to thank the individuals who came out here today,” Reed said. “Even if you weren’t able to participate in all of today’s activities, your desire to be here means a lot to all of us.”